Catholic School Advisory Council

Catholic School Advisory Council

The primary purpose of a Catholic School Advisory Council is to focus the resources of an entire community on the well- being and effective learning of our students. The following information is an excerpt of our St. Agnes School Constitution.

Purpose

Our St. Agnes School Council is an advisory body of parents/guardians, teachers, principal, staff, community and parish representatives who work together to enhance student learning while promoting Catholic faith and values.

Objectives

The objectives of St. Agnes Catholic School Council shall be:

To recognize that our school is an extension of our homes

To support the faith development of the school community.

To establish and maintain effective communication and co-operation among the home, the school and the parish

To continue to work together in building school/community spirit through open lines of communication among all partners, and recognizing their diversity.

To encourage the highest ideals of family life and to increase parent/guardian involvement in the education of their children.

To encourage and support school based activities and programs

To establish and monitor progress of subcommittees

To advise on the allocation of fundraising resource

Code of Ethics

A member shall consider the best interests of all students

A member shall be guided by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (“WCDSB”) mission and vision

A member shall act within the limits of the roles and responsibilities of a school council, as identified by the school council constitution, WCDSB, and the Ontario Ministry of Education

A member shall become familiar with the school’s policies and operating practices and act in accordance with them

A member shall maintain the highest standards of integrity

A member shall recognize and respect the personal integrity of each member of the school

A member shall treat all other members with respect and allow for diverse opinions to be shared without interruption

A member shall respect the time allocated in set agenda for each discussion point

A member shall encourage a positive environment in which individual contributions are encouraged and valued

A member shall acknowledge democratic principles and accept the consensus of St. Agnes Catholic School Council

A member shall respect the confidential nature of some school business and respect limitations this may place on the operation of the St. Agnes School Council

A member shall not disclose confidential information

A member shall limit discussions at St. Agnes Catholic School Council meeting to matters of concern to the school community as a whole; conversations are not reflective of individual concerns/staff

A member shall use established communication channels when questions or concerns arise contacting the principal as needed

A member shall promote high standards of ethical practice within the school community

A member shall declare any conflict of interest

Duties and Responsibilities

Participate in St. Agnes Catholic School Council meetings

Act as a link between the St. Agnes Catholic School Council, the school community and the community at large

Encourage the participation of all parents/guardians and of other people within the school community

Set priorities ourselves for the enrichment of the lives of the students at St. Agnes Catholic School

Arrive at decisions with consensus when possible if a decision cannot be reached using consensus, a vote will be taken to determine result or decision

A member ceases to be a part of St. Agnes Catholic School Council during a given term if:

He/she no longer has a child enrolled in the school

He/she submits a letter of resignation to St. Agnes Catholic School Council Chair and Principal

Members missing 3 or more regularly scheduled council meetings in one school year may be removed from the official number of voting members.

Duties and Responsibilities

The members of the St. Agnes Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC) shall:

Participate in council meetings

Act as a link between CSAC, the school community and the community at large

Encourage the participation of all parents/guardians and of other people within the school community

Set priorities for the enrichment of the lives of the students at St. Agnes CES.

Submit annual activity and financial reports to the Principal and the Board.

CSAC acts in an advisory capacity to the principal. Other issues can include the preparation of school profiles, extracurricular activities and the establishment of ad-hoc committees for fundraising.

Anyone in the school or broader community is welcome to attend and to observe CSAC meetings. These meetings deal with many issues important to the school community; however, they are not forums for the discussion of parent-teacher-student issues. These concerns will be referred to the Principal.

Our CSAC is always looking for dynamic individuals in our community to be part of the team. All are welcome!

Characteristics of Effective School Councils:

Focus on student learning and the best interests of all students are actively involved in setting school priorities for improving student achievement

Promote meaningful parental, parish, and community involvement and actively seek the views of their school communities

Have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities

Include members who represent the diverse views of their school communities

Keep well informed about school and board policies and procedures

Have clear and consistent processes for decision making

Communicate with the community about their activities

Maintain high ethical standards

Have members who have developed mutual trust and respect for one another

CSAC Meeting Dates for 2019-2020:

The St. Agnes CSAC will meet 6 times this school year (dates are posted on St. Agnes Website Google calendar). All parents are invited to join us in the Learning Commons at 6:30 -8:00 pm.